Improvement in portable cradles



[35;] WILLlAM P. EVANS.

Improvement in Portable Crad|es. 910.118,918. Patented Sep. 12,181.

PATENT QEEICE.

WILLIAM E. EVANs, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE CRADLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,918, dated September 12, 1871.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. EVANS, of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a Portable Cradle, of which the following' is a specification:

My invention consists, first, of a certain arrangement of hinged frames and connectingbars, arranged to be extended and fitted together so as to form a rm support for a cradle; and, secondly, of the combination with the said snpporting frame of a light net-work cradle, somewhat resembling ahammock, all as fully described hereafter.

Figure l is a perspective View of my portable cradle 5 Fig. 2, a perspective View of part of the same, showing the manner of folding and unfolding a portion of the frame 3 and Fig. 3, a view of the frame partially folded.

A and A represent the supporting end frames of the cradle, connected together by the horizontal bars B,B1, and B2, to the uppermost of which is hung the cradle C, the latter resembling a hammock in its general appearance, and being composed of light net-work, to which a proper shape is given; in the present instance, by a frame-work of stout rope, a, connected at the opposite ends of the cradle to other ropes, b, united to rings d el, which pass around the upper supporting bar B, and are adapted to grooves in the same, so as not to slip from their places. I prefer this method of connecting the cradle to the bar, as it permits the said cradle to be freely rocked from side to side Without danger of becoming disconnected; but if desired, the rings d d may, instead of passing around the bar, be attached to hooks secured to the under side of the same. rlhe construction of the cradle may also be modied by forming the netting upon a light frame-work of metal instead of upon rope, but I prefer the latter, as it enables the cradle to be doubled up or folded so as to occupy but little space. The connecting and bracing bars and end frames, which forni the support for the cradle, are constructed and fitted together as follows: Each of the end frames A and A consists of two strips or legs c e, crossed and riveted together at the point j', and connected together at the top by a cross-piece, g, the latter being attached to one of the legs by a link or short chain, h, as

shown in Fig. 2, so as not to be entirely disconnected therefrom, and being rigidly attached to the said legs when the whole is iitted together, by pins ii on the same, adapted to holes in the cross-piece. The connecting-bars B and B1 are hinged at one end tothe frame A at the points j and 7c, and have, at their opposite ends, small projecting pins l, which hook into plates m, secured to the frame A. The connecting-bar B is in like manner hinged to the frame Al at the point p, and hooked onto a projecting plate of the frame A at the point q. rlhe said frames, when thus extended and secured together, form a light but strong support for the cradle, which, when suspended, as before described, from the upper bar B, can be rocked from one side to the other, without risk of becoming disconnected or of loosening the frame.

Vhen the cradle is no longer required for use, or when it is desirable to pack it into a small compass for convenience in transportation, the bars BBlB2 are unhookcd from the end frames, and the cradle is slipped off from the bar B, and doubled or folded up, so as to occupy as little room as possible. The cross-piece g of each end frame is then lifted clear of the pins i z', and laid against one of the legs, c, the latter are folded close together upon their pivot f, and the brace B or B1, which is hinged .to the lower end of one of the said legs, is turned inward against the same.

In this way the whole of the frame with the exception of the bar B is folded into two compact parcels, and the said bar B which is hinged or hooked onto the cross-piece of the frame A, may either be turned inward against the pieces composing the latter, or it may be entirely disconnected therefrom.

The said bar B is of somewhat greater length than the legs ofthe end frames, and, if desired, the bars Bl and B2 also, may be made in two sections, capable of being screwed together, as shown in Fig. 3, so that when the frame is taken apart they may occupy but very little room.

I claim- 1. A portable supporting frame for cradles, consisting of end frames A and A', connected together by bars B, Bl, and B2, the whole being constructed and fitted together substantially in the manner described, set-hat the bars may be In. testimony whereof I have signed my name disconnected and folded with and against the to this specification in the presence of two subframe, as specified. serbng Witnesses.

2. The combination of a net-Work 01' other Y WILLIAM R. EVANS. cradle C, capable of being folded or doubled, Witnesses:

With a supporting frame, constructed and itted THOs. MGILVAIN, together substantially iu the manner described. HARRY SMITH. 

